Polo-stick



(No Model.)

A. W. WALKER. POLO STICK.

Patented J 1y 13,1897.

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ALEXANDER IV. WALKER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

POLO-STICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,373, dated July 13, 1897. Application filed November 20, 1896. Serial No. 612,855. (No model.)

To all 2071/0717, it 72m, concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER W. WAL- KER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Polo-Sticks, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in polo-sticks for the purpose of preventing the stick from being accidentally detached from the hand of the player during the game.

Although particularly designed for use on polo sticks, the invention is equally well adapted for use on hockey or golf sticks, for handles on lawn-tennis rackets, or other sport or athletic devices, as will hereinafter be more fully shown and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where- 1n Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a polo-stick provided with my improved safety holding device. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section on the line 2 2, shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a detail plan view of the locking projection attached to the palm portion of the glove. Fig. 4 represents a crosssection on the line 4 4, shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 represents a cross-section on the line 5 5, shown in Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to similar part-s wherever they occur on the diiferent parts of the drawings.

A represents a polo-stick or other athletic or sporting instrument or device, on which A is the handle portion. In such handle portion is made a longitudinal groove B, extending from the upper end of the handle portion a proper distance, as shown, said groove being partially closed at the upper side thereof preferably by means of metal lips or plates O C, secured to the handle in any suitable manner, as shown.

I wish to state that I do not confine myself to the use of two lips or plates C, as, if so desired, one only may be used, or, if so desired, the groove may be T-shaped in section and the lip or lips dispensed with without departing from the essence of myinvention; but in practice I prefer to make a groove as shown and provide it at its outside with one or two lips or plates 0, as shown.

The slot or groove B is preferably provided with an enlargement b in its lower end for receiving the head of the projection or locking device D, which is firmly secured in a suitable manner to the palm portion of the glove E, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Said look ing projection D is adapted to be inserted through said end opening I) in the groove B, and when placed in said groove it is prevented from being accidentally detached from the stick by the lips or plates 0 O, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In playing polo a glove E is usually worn on the hand in which the stick is held, and to the palm portion of such glove is secured the locking projection D, as fully shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

If it is desired to insert the locking projection D from the upper end of the handle A or detach it at such place, I provide it with an adjustable gate F, preferably pivoted at f and adapted to be held in the normallocked position (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) by the influence of a suitable spring f, as shown in Fig. 2. A spiral spring is shown for this purpose in said Fig. 2, but any other Well-known form of spring may be used to equal advantage without departing from the essence of my invention.

In practice I prefer to provide the springpressed gate F with a notch F at its outer end, as shown inFig. 2, by means of which it may be manipulated for the purpose of depressing said gate previous to inserting the locking projection D in the groove B or disconnecting said locking projection from the grooved handle, as occasion may require. Thus to detach the stick from the hand of the player it is only necessary either to slide the gloved hand downward until the locking de vice D coincides with the groove-opening b, when the button or projection D maybe lifted out of said groove-opening b, or by sliding the gloved hand upward and depressing the latch F, when the locking device D may be drawn out of the groove B, as hereinabove described.

Heretofore straps attached to the stick and adapted to be fastened around the wrist of the player have been used for this purpose, but they are objectionable on account of the unnecessary amount of time needed in attaching and detaching such straps, and, furthermore, as they are liable to strain the wrist and prevent proper circulation of the blood in the arm and hand. These objections are overcome with my device, which is very simple in construction, and by its use the stick can readily be attached to and detached from the hand of the player.

What I Wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim is 1. In combination, a polo-stick, or other athletic or sporting device, having alongitudinally-grooved handle, and a glove or holder having a locking device adapted to be introname to this specification, in the presence of 30 two subscribing Witnesses, on this 28th day of October, A. D. 1896.

ALEXANDER XVALKER. Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN, LAURITZ N. MoLLER. 

